Private healthcare.. worth it?

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Hi all,
After some pretty appalling treatment from the NHS, my girlfriend and I were talking about the validity of choosing private healthcare.

Obviously you get what you pay for, but how much are we talking about here? Do you just pay a monthly fee and if anything comes up you fork out for that as well or are most things covered? (Bear in mind I don't play sports or go skiing!)

I really have no idea how it works or if it's worth seriously considering, but I do know that if I had an alternative to the NHS which I could afford, I'd certainly go for it!

Any advice is mucho appreciado.

 

[Gazwag]

The cost depends on your age generally and (subject to the excess) will cover nearly everything, except existing conditions. Probably cost £50-£60 a month each as a guess.

Obviously you hope to go through life without needing to use it, but if you do need to go to hospital - its worth its weight in gold

 

[Shirty]

I'm fortunate enough to get private healthcare through work, so don't have to pay for it. Its certainly well worth while on that basis, but the gulf between private and NHS is massive in my experience, having had cause to use both in recent years.

Mrs Shirty and I have agreed that once the kids get to 18 and are no longer covered under my policy, then we'll pay for them to have their own cover.

For what its worth, I think the annual cost for the four of us is about £1,500, but we're on a pretty good policy with Axa that includes travel insurance too. The excess is £200 a year. The policy even includes a provision whereby if you elect to use the NHS rather than the private cover, they will pay you £100 for every night you are in hospital.

Hope that helps...

 

[Hunting 784561]

Worth getting as long as you dont expect any pre-existing issues to be covered. In other words if you have already seen your GP about a specific medical problem, the chances are that private cover won't cover it.

I had a back op last year, and it was all sorted very promptly and efficiently at the Nuffield at both BTN and HH.

 

[Drumstick]

If the reforms go through as planned it'll pretty much be private anyway so your choice will be made for you.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

thanks Gazwag. We're both 26 and don't have any existing health conditions.

I've been advised to check whether my company has a healthcare plan that could cover us both. As you say, I don't really want to be in a position to ever have to use it, but if it means sacrificing my wonderful 50 meg broadband and a couple of takeaways I'd say that's a fair trade off!

 

[peterward]

Its definitely worth it [MENTION=8459]TWOCHOICEStom[/MENTION]

If you're sick, the care,service and hospitals are so much better. Even if you're not you have that peace of mind. People will insure against their contents like DVD players and stereos getting pinched or damaged, their car breaking down, the pet getting ill, but not their own healthcare?

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I would say that in the event of needing non-emergency care, that you'll probably get an appointment much quicker. Depends what it is, but chances are you'll see the same people though.

I also get it free through work, but unfortunately, doesn't cover what I need it for now. I have kidney failure, and they specify that a) They don't cover chronic conditions, and b) Specifically they don't cover kidney dialysis. Having said that, getting the dialysis through the Royal Sussex on NHS doesn't apear to be an issue - although I've not started yet. They also specifically say that they don't cover transplants - but I've yet to find out whether, when I do have to go in to hospitals whether I can get private rooms etc., even if the medical staff are the same people.

On balance, get cover if you can afford it and hope not to need it.

 

[Butch Willykins]

If you can get it through work then I would say 100% go for it. I'm lucky enought to have it throught my employer, it cost's me about £40 a month, but my PAYE Tax code is adjusted so I never really see/miss the money anyway.

I had an operation last year following a sports injury. The diagnosis, surgery and aftercare including physiotherapy etc was absolutely first class.

 

[Hillian1]

My old man had private health, when he fell ill NHS was his first call and was basically told he would have to wait 18 weeks for a an endoscope.
He used his private health, was seen within 3 days and diagnosed with osophegeal cancer, Private health didn't save him but gave him a bloody good fighting chance. He died 17 weeks after being diagnosed so the NHS would not even have seen him yet.

On balance i would say it is worth it.

 

[clippedgull]

I would say that in the event of needing non-emergency care, that you'll probably get an appointment much quicker. Depends what it is, but chances are you'll see the same people though.

I also get it free through work, but unfortunately, doesn't cover what I need it for now. I have kidney failure, and they specify that a) They don't cover chronic conditions, and b) Specifically they don't cover kidney dialysis. Having said that, getting the dialysis through the Royal Sussex on NHS doesn't apear to be an issue - although I've not started yet. They also specifically say that they don't cover transplants - but I've yet to find out whether, when I do have to go in to hospitals whether I can get private rooms etc., even if the medical staff are the same people.

On balance, get cover if you can afford it and hope not to need it.

My mum is on kidney dialysis through the NHS at the Royal Sussex and the care is very good. Also if you drive and will be taking your car you can get a free parking pass for the multi storey.

 

[little al]

Its worth it for the food alone! This was my pudding when I went in for an operation.

 

[drew]

I've experienced both and the speed of service with private is the main benefit. The consultants you see are pretty much the same although with private you are normally guaranteed to see the consultant rather than a trainee! As for hospital stays, yes you get a private room but that can be pretty dull if you are stuck in there for a week like I was.

As for the cost, £40ish is not the cost of the healthcare but the tax you pay on the value of the benefit. When I left my last company, I was quoted £250 a month to cover my wife, child and myself.

 

[Notters]

I've been suffering from a slipped disc for a year and a half. Bloody wish I'd had it!

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

Considering that 1 in 3 of the population will be directly impacted by cancer at some point in their life, I would have a long, detailed and objective look at the out of hospital back-up, community/home support, home treatment facilities, emergency response etc being provided by any private health scheme.
I'm currently being treated (NHS) at the the St Lukes Cancer Centre at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford and there are several patients who are dosed on the same day as me who have "bailed out" of their private health care treatment because BUPA (or whoever the provider is) doesn't have the infrastructure to support them once they go home. The default position seems to be (albeit this is anecdotal "gossip" from the ward), go to A&E and let the NHS sort it.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Would love to have it as a benefit at work, but I don't and I can't afford to pay for it myself. I have never had any troubles with being treated on the NHS either. I realise this may not always be the case but I can't justify the extra cost on a what if

 

[Tricky Dicky]

My mum is on kidney dialysis through the NHS at the Royal Sussex and the care is very good. Also if you drive and will be taking your car you can get a free parking pass for the multi storey.

For the hosptial car park ? I didn't know that. Having said that, it seems that car park is always full anyway. Everyone I've spoken to regarding the Royal Sussex, the first thing they say is, the parking is awful. Went there for the first time last week, and got a train into Brighton and a cab from the station and back again. I think my visitas there will be rather regular, even if I'm dialysing at home.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Its definitely worth it @TWOCHOICEStom

If you're sick, the care,service and hospitals are so much better. Even if you're not you have that peace of mind. People will insure against their contents like DVD players and stereos getting pinched or damaged, their car breaking down, the pet getting ill, but not their own healthcare?

To nit pick slighty - people do insure their own healthcare - it's called National Insurance. People with private healthcare just insure twice !

Personally I've used both NHS and private healthcare. Appointments are much quicker with private healthcare but the I've been much happier with the treatments I've received on the NHS. In fact I can't think of one thing I would complain about when it comes to my experience of the NHS - dentistry excepted.

My father had a cancer scare a few months ago and I've never seen such a flurry of activity and appointments that he got from the NHS. Inside 10 days of his first appointment he had all the tests required and the results back and a longterm care plan for his illness which thankfully turned out not to be cancer.

On a selfish note - yes, take the private healthcare. It will leave more resources for those of us that will continue to use the NHS.

 

[catfish]

Private treatment is faster but not necessarily better. A large percentage of patients given the faulty 3M hip replacements were private ones.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

To nit pick slighty - people do insure their own healthcare - it's called National Insurance. People with private healthcare just insure twice !

Personally I've used both NHS and private healthcare. Appointments are much quicker with private healthcare but the I've been much happier with the treatments I've received on the NHS. In fact I can't think of one thing I would complain about when it comes to my experience of the NHS - dentistry excepted.

My father had a cancer scare a few months ago and I've never seen such a flurry of activity and appointments that he got from the NHS. Inside 10 days of his first appointment he had all the tests required and the results back and a longterm care plan for his illness which thankfully turned out not to be cancer.

On a selfish note - yes, take the private healthcare. It will leave more resources for those of us that will continue to use the NHS.

I have to say that my NHS visit last week to the RS Kidney Unit could not really have been any better. I had 3 appointments arranged, one after the other. We arrived 1/2 hour early and within 5 minutes someone came out to say "would you like to start now ?" and I basically went from one person to the other (6 different people in the end), without waiting for a minute - which is rather atypical of the NHS, but I think because the unit is self-contained and all the specialists were there in one place.